The Frontiers Planet Prize at NSS: Scientific Consensus in Action

Highlights from the Frontiers Planet Prize Symposium at the 2025 National Sustainability Society Conference

At the 2025 National Sustainability Society Conference, the session “The Frontiers Planet Prize: Scientific Consensus in Action” brought together leading researchers to discuss how science can drive transformative solutions for a just and sustainable future within a safe planetary operating space. The event celebrated the North American National Champions of the Frontiers Planet Prize.

Moderated by Julia Kostova (Director of Open Science Solutions for North America, Frontiers), the discussion features Franklin Carrero-Martinez (Senior Director of Global Sustainability and Development at the National Academies of Sciences), Edward Kolodziej (1st Edition National Champion, University of Washington), Jason Rohr (2nd Edition International Champion, University of Notre Dame), and Laura Vang Rasmussen (3rd Edition International Champion Co-Author, University of Copenhagen). Their research addresses critical planetary health concerns, from reducing agricultural emissions and conserving freshwater systems to advancing environmental justice through co-designed, community-based approaches.

From left to right: Edward Kolodziej, Laura Vang Rasmussen, Jason Rohr, Franklin Carrero-Martinez, and Julia Kostova

Read about each Champion’s work here:

Edward Kolodziej: A ubiquitous tire rubber–derived chemical induces acute mortality in coho salmon

Jason Rohr: A Need for a Paradigm Shift in Planetary Health Science

Laura Vang Rasmussen: A More Diverse Agriculture for the Future of Our Planet

Holistic approaches to the planetary crisis

Kostova opened the panel session with a discussion point on the opportunities and challenges of approaching the planetary boundaries holistically instead of in isolation. The Champions emphasized the need for science to continue becoming more interdisciplinary. Rohr noted the challenges researchers face in navigating disciplinary language, funding gaps, and academic structures that favour specialization. Rasmussen highlighted the opportunity to design “coherent solutions” that deliver multiple benefits, such as diversified agriculture that supports both biodiversity and livelihoods. Kolodziej pointed to the lack of integrated funding frameworks in the United States to connect chemical exposure research with environmental and human health.

The discussion also addressed the timeline for action, with Kostova querying the panellists on both simple 'low-hanging fruit' approaches and laying the pipeline for long-term systemic solutions.

Carrero-Martinez and Kolodziej stressed the importance of giving consumers greater transparency and therefore autonomy, with Carrero-Martinez advocating for better science communication training, particularly for the next generation of scientists. Rohr highlighted the recent advancements in attribution for anthropogenic climate change effects, such as analysis of counterfactual climate data. When it comes to agricultural solutions, however, Rasmussen stressed that there is no easy or simple fix, with much work being done to reverse decades-long initiatives focussed only on yield and calorie output. A systemic overhaul is required for agricultural solutions, but building from the ground up is what creates lasting and cohesive solutions.

Dr Laura Vang Rasmussen

3rd Edition International Champion Lead Author, Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen

“(Soils, Food and Healthy Communities) is what we call a bright spot. These are places where farming communities have managed to overcome barriers and work against the odds, to actually go against the more regional trends and in these partnerships with local communities. I think that we as researchers can learn a lot from these bright spots, because there are lessons to be learned in terms of what is applicable to other areas, but what can we learn here from how they manage to overcome these barriers? And I think that that's the first step in order to make a lasting and more coherent change.”

Community engagement and the implementation gap

Building trust and collaboration with local communities emerged as a common theme, with each Champion detailing the impact and necessity of community engagement for the success of any project.

Rasmussen shared the example of the Soils, Food and Healthy Communities (SFHC) project in northern Malawi, which has been working with more than 6,000 farmers across 200 villages for over two decades. By building social networks through farmer-to-farmer training and knowledge sharing, the program has helped communities diversify agricultural practices and overcome structural barriers. Rasmussen described SFHC as a “bright spot” where local collaboration has led to success despite regional challenges, an approach that offers lessons for scaling solutions in other parts of the world.

Kolodziej added that community engagement is equally critical in ecosystem restoration. In his work on watershed management, Tribal Nations in the Pacific Northwest have been instrumental in identifying areas that need attention and in translating scientific findings into policy, particularly in efforts to protect salmon populations.

Rohr echoed the importance of genuine collaboration, emphasizing that his research in Senegal would not be possible without long-term partnerships with local communities, the Ministry of Health, and agricultural professionals. Sustained communication and trust, he noted, are vital to ensuring research outcomes are relevant and actionable.

Prof Jason Rohr

2nd Edition International Champion, Gala Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame

“Whenever humanity has agreed on a threat and mobilised resources, we have succeeded. Whether it be World Wars, The Great Depression, the race to the moon, addressing chlorofluorocarbons, acid rain, generating a vaccine for HIV and for COVID… we have come out on top. That is the argument I would make for why we need people in this field.”

Kostova then turned to Carrero-Martinez, asking what mechanisms can best bridge the gap between scientific discovery and policy implementation. Carrero-Martinez highlighted the importance of making research policy-relevant and engaging students, communities, and partners in the process, and it was these features of each Champion's research that contributed to their nomination for the prize. They made these connections explicit. He called for academics to be aware of the 'ivory tower' rhetoric and tear down barriers to implementation by talking to relevant parties and educating the next generation.

Kolodziej spoke about the challenge and necessity of advocacy. Though many scientists may like to act independently, there is a path you can follow to get the message out, he pointed out, that to make a change, you must speak up. He shared that a congressional discussion about tire rubber pollution began after a member of congress read about it in the New York Times.  

Closing Sentiments & Inspiring the Next Generation

The conversation concluded on an optimistic note. Asked why people should pursue science at a time when trust in institutions is strained, the panellists offered a collective message of hope and purpose.

Prof Edward Kolodziej

1st Edition National Champion, Professor, University of Washington

“It is very difficult to step forward and want a reporter to write a news story but it's actually something you have to do…Here in the US we have had both House and Senate hearings on 6BPD and 6BDP-quinone use in tyres, I know for a fact that the House hearing came about because the congressional representative read a story in the New York Times.”

A career in science is a marathon, said Kolodziej, what keeps you going is knowing your work makes a real difference. Rasmussen described this as a particularly exciting time for early-career researchers, noting the increasing opportunities to work across disciplines and design solutions that address multiple challenges simultaneously.

Rohr spoke to the urgency of the moment and accelerating the timeline to scientific and political consensus, ‘because we need scientists more than ever.’ Highlighting (optimistically, he adds) that whenever humanity agrees on a threat and mobilises resources, we succeed, whether it’s landing on the moon, tackling acid rain, or developing vaccines. When we align on the problem, we rise to the challenge.

Dr. Franklin Carrero-Martínez

Senior Director of Global Sustainability and Development at the National Academies of Sciences

“Here with our distinguished panellists, I think we have the best concrete examples (of accessible and implementable solutions). Their research was not only carried out in the lab, it went to the community, they engaged students, Tribal Nations, other partners, health ministries, their research is policy relevant, they make that connection explicit… That makes the research stand out.”

Carrero-Martinez closed with a reminder of what ultimately connects all these efforts; sometimes it looks like there is no way forward, but even when progress feels uncertain, the goals remain the same. Regardless of the political landscape, we will continue to need clean water and clean air for healthy lives on a healthy planet.